Column Chart with Images on Top

A column chart with a face on top of each column, so the chart reads as people, not just numbers. Each picture’s address comes from the data, next to its value.

  • Try it:
  • Point at a column for its value
Get the code JavaScript JSON
About this chart

When faces help a chart

A face or logo on top of each column tells the reader who it is before they look down at the axis, and it makes a ranking feel personal. The address of each picture sits in the data next to its value, so any image can go there.

Good for

  • Sales or scores by person
  • Brands with logos, teams with badges
  • Leaderboards and social posts

Think twice when

  • More than about eight columns: the pictures overlap
  • Values close together: add value labels, the faces won’t show the difference
  • Formal reports: the pictures can look playful
For developers

Get the code.

Built with amCharts 5, a JavaScript library. The JavaScript includes your theme and renderer (canvas or SVG); the JSON also follows the changes you make with the controls.

Docs:BulletsTemplate fieldsImagesColumn series
// Create root element
// https://www.amcharts.com/docs/v5/getting-started/#Root_element
var root = am5.Root.new("chartdiv");

// Set themes
// https://www.amcharts.com/docs/v5/concepts/themes/
root.setThemes([
  am5themes_Animated.new(root),
  am5themes_Responsive.new(root)
]);

// Create chart
// https://www.amcharts.com/docs/v5/charts/xy-chart/
var chart = root.container.children.push(am5xy.XYChart.new(root, {
  panX: false,    // the plot doesn't pan when dragged
  panY: false,
  wheelX: "none", // the mouse wheel scrolls the page
  wheelY: "none",
  paddingLeft: 0  // the value labels sit at the chart's left edge
}));

// Add cursor
// https://www.amcharts.com/docs/v5/charts/xy-chart/cursor/
var cursor = chart.set("cursor", am5xy.XYCursor.new(root, {}));
cursor.lineY.set("visible", false); // no horizontal cursor line, only the vertical one

// Create axes
// https://www.amcharts.com/docs/v5/charts/xy-chart/axes/
var xRenderer = am5xy.AxisRendererX.new(root, {
  minGridDistance: 30, // a label for every name down to 30px apart
  minorGridEnabled: true
 });

var xAxis = chart.xAxes.push(am5xy.CategoryAxis.new(root, {
  maxDeviation: 0,                   // no panning past the first and last name
  categoryField: "name",
  renderer: xRenderer,
  tooltip: am5.Tooltip.new(root, {}) // the cursor shows the name on the axis
}));

xRenderer.grid.template.set("visible", false); // no vertical grid lines

var yRenderer = am5xy.AxisRendererY.new(root, {});
var yAxis = chart.yAxes.push(am5xy.ValueAxis.new(root, {
  maxDeviation: 0, // no panning past the ends of the scale
  min: 0,          // the columns start at zero
  // 10% of room above the tallest column, for its photo
  extraMax: 0.1,
  renderer: yRenderer
}));

yRenderer.grid.template.setAll({
  strokeDasharray: [2, 2] // dashed grid lines: 2px dash, 2px gap
});

// the vertical grid lines get the same dash, for when they are shown
xRenderer.grid.template.set("strokeDasharray", [2, 2]);

// Create series
// https://www.amcharts.com/docs/v5/charts/xy-chart/series/
var series = chart.series.push(am5xy.ColumnSeries.new(root, {
  name: "Series 1",
  xAxis: xAxis,
  yAxis: yAxis,
  valueYField: "value",
  sequencedInterpolation: true, // the columns grow one after another
  categoryXField: "name",
  // the tooltip moves up 25px, clear of the photo
  tooltip: am5.Tooltip.new(root, { dy: -25, labelText: "{valueY}" }),
  // Each column takes its own color from the series palette
  colorByDataItem: true
}));

series.columns.template.setAll({
  cornerRadiusTL: 5, // rounded top corners
  cornerRadiusTR: 5,
  strokeOpacity: 0   // no outline
});

// Set data
var data = [
  {
    name: "John",
    value: 35654,
    bulletSettings: { src: "https://www.amcharts.com/lib/images/faces/A04.png" }
  },
  {
    name: "Damon",
    value: 65456,
    bulletSettings: { src: "https://www.amcharts.com/lib/images/faces/C02.png" }
  },
  {
    name: "Patrick",
    value: 45724,
    bulletSettings: { src: "https://www.amcharts.com/lib/images/faces/D02.png" }
  },
  {
    name: "Mark",
    value: 13654,
    bulletSettings: { src: "https://www.amcharts.com/lib/images/faces/E01.png" }
  }
];

// a photo centered on the top of each column, its address taken from the data's bulletSettings
series.bullets.push(function() {
  return am5.Bullet.new(root, {
    locationY: 1, // at the top of the column
    sprite: am5.Picture.new(root, {
      templateField: "bulletSettings",
      width: 50,                        // 50px photos
      height: 50,
      centerX: am5.p50,                 // centered on the column's top
      centerY: am5.p50,
      shadowColor: am5.color(0x000000), // a dark shadow...
      shadowBlur: 4,
      shadowOffsetX: 4,                 // ...down and to the right
      shadowOffsetY: 4,
      shadowOpacity: 0.6
    })
  });
});

xAxis.data.setAll(data);
series.data.setAll(data);

// Make stuff animate on load
// https://www.amcharts.com/docs/v5/concepts/animations/
series.appear(1000);
chart.appear(1000, 100);

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